Gasifying mechanism



G. L. REICHHELM GASIFYING MEGHANISM Filed Jan. ll 2 Sheets-Sheet l HUMIW.

ct. 2s 1924. 1511949.

G. L. REICHHELM GASIFYING MECHANISM Filed dan. ll 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E mi# @ww J Oct. 28, 1924.

STATES PATENT oFFicE.

GEORGE L. mcnnnmaj or NEW Yonx, N. Y.

GASIFYING MECHANISM.

Application n led January 11, 1919. Serial No. 270,694.

siding at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and luseful Improvements `in Gasifying Mechanism,y of whichthe following is a specification. y

This invention relates to gasifying mechanism, and more particularlyto a combination Aof parts, in one of which parts a gas is produced from a heavyhydro-carbon for starting an internal combustion engine, the products of combustion from thefinternal combustion engine,in turn heating another one of the parts in which a heavy hydro-carbon may be gasitied preparatory to being supplied to the en ine for power purposes, the use of llight hy ro-carbons such as gasoline, thereby `being entirely obviated.

One of the objects of -this invention is to make it possible to start an internal combustion engine onrelatively heavy hydrocarbons.

Another object is to provide. a novel gasifier arrangement, by means of which an internal vcombustion engine may be started and operated on heavy hydro-carbons.

Another object is to provide a novel combination of producer plant and carbureter adapted to meet all startin and operating conditions for internal com ustion engines operating on heavy hydro-carbons. V

These and other objects are accomplished by means of th arrangement disclosed on the accompa'nyiI g sheets of drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my' gasifying mechanism, parts being in Section for the sake of clearness;

v Figure 2 isa plan view of the same arrangement showing also a portion of an en me;

' igure 3 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figure l; t

Figure 4r is la detail view showlng an operative connection to an oil controlling valve;

Figure 5 i`s a perspective View of the a1r control piston;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the l Isleeve which'is associated with the air control piston;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view showing the arrangement for separating and spreading the liquid fuel into thin films; and,

Figure 8 is a detail view of the combination air and oil control valve for the primer orliquid producer plant. l

The various novel features of my invention will lbe apparent rom'the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In my copending application, Serial No. 270,693, filed January 1l, 1919, I have dis# closed a liquid fuel producer in which relatively heavy lhydro-carbon is supplied through a tube and to a plurality of legs connected therewith, said legsjbeing provided With spaced pieces of mica, parts of which are locatedwithin the tube legs for collecting the oil, the oil by capillary attraction passin along the mica and dividinginto thin lms exteriorly with respect to the legs, the lower ilms of oil being treated by an electric spark whereby a portion thereof is gasified and ignited to gasify and ignite the. remaining films of oil on the otherl mica strips, thus producing a hot bon thereby becoming gasifie yand being passed with a certain amount of air and products of combustion through the casing of the producer, from which the same may be directed -to any proper device for suitable purposes.' v

In this present application I disclose the liquid fuel producer above mentioned in connection with a carbureter for an internal combustion engine, the liquid fuel producer in effect acting as a primer for starting the engine, after which the liquid fuel producer is cut out of action and the engine run on the samegrade of heavy hydro-carbon preferably supplied from another source, it being understood that the engine is started from a cold condition on a heavy hydro-carbon, as well as being run on a heavy rhydro-carbon.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that my gasifying mecha;

nism includes the liquid producer plant dea casinglO which is rovided with anopening 9 for the reception of a tube llwhich' -branches. into two downwardly extending legs 12 having closed ends; The upper extremity of the tube 11 terminates in a valve casing 13 having an air inlet 14, there being a valve 15 operablewithinthe valve casing 13 to control the supply of air to the tube 11 and its legs 12. This valve-15l also controls the flow of heav hydro-carbon whicl is supplied tothe tu e 11 through a pipe 16, the fuel and air passing in groove 17 of the Valve. It will be understood that when air is caused to pass downwardlyinto the tube 11 and legs 12, tlie liquid fuel also will pass through the tube 11 and legs 12..

In order to eiiciently gasify a heavy liquid fuel`initially,iI have caused the liquid fuel to be separated into relatively thin films,

20 after which'said films of oil may be treated with heat for gasification preparatory to ignition. For spreading or separating the relatively heavy liquid fuel into, relatively thin films, I have provided each of the legs 12 with bunches or groups of spaced mica of openings 19 in one leg being opposite the lset of openings 19 in the other leg. The arrangement of a single bunch' of mica is shown in Figure 7 in connection with which it will be noted that the sheets of mica are spread widely within the le 12 for receiving or collecting the liquid uel as it passes downwardly through the leg 12. .As a result of capillary attraction, the liquid fuel gathered'by the mica Within theV legs 12 is 40 passed outwardly along the mica strips,

forming relatively thin films of liquid fuel between and on the outwardly diverging pieces of mica which extend outwardly from the legs 12 into the casing 10. A spark plug 20 is secured to the casing l0 adjacent one of the lower bunches of mica. Between the two poles formed by the spark plug wire 21 and a sheet metal strip 22, some of the mica is interposed, and invview of the fact that the mica is anon-conductor, it diverts the produced electrical spark, the spark first impinging upon the mica in .its attempt to take the shortest course. This heats a small portion of the non-conductor, vaporizing the 535 -liquid fuel thereon and almost simultane- The arrangement ously causing a ame. and spread of the mica leaves, as shown in the drawings, Ycauses the ame to travel u wardly and spread to the other leaves. t

this 'point it will be noted that the legs,

intermediate lthe bunches of mica, are provided with holes 23, the series of. holes 23 in one leg being located directly opposite the series of holes in the opposite leg. The

05 air which passes downwardly through'tlie has been started and has legs 12 and outwardly through these openings 23 necessarily has the same velocity, and where these streams meet the velocity, irrespective of the speed from the orifices, must be zero. .y In this way it is ossible to cause combustion with a high or Ilow velocity, or with a high or low pressure, which to all intent in this process is the same. It will be understood that the llame originally formed at the ,lower bunch of mica will spread rapidly upwardly, gasifying the liquid fuel in the -mica sheets arranged above, this being especially true in view of.

-the fact that a definite amount of air is supplied through the openings 23.for supporting combustion. It will be understood that the large and relatively hot llame thus produced will act upon the tube 1l and legs 12 for gasifying the liquid fuel continuously passing therethrough. The products of combustion formed by' this heating action pass upwardlythrough'the vertical portion of the casing 10 and laterally through the horizontal portion of said casing, and pass outwardly through the casing openin 24. It also will be understood readily that ifl an ,excess amount Aof* oil is permitted to flow through .the tube 11 and legs12, a gaseous vapor will pass through the casing to the outlet 24, which when mixedV with the proper supply of air will readily produce an extreiiiely hot Haine for the desired purpose. It is readilyapparent that when the fuel distributed in the fan-shaped lamination of mica is aflaine and streams of air are being issued through the openings or orifices 23, an exceedingly high temperature can be developed, and as a result thereof it will not be diiicult to understand why ithas been possible, by turning on an excess amount of liquid fue that a gaseous vapor will be formed which will =issue from the casing opening 24. f

In the drawin s I have shown this liquid gas producing p ant as used in connection with a carbureter for an internal combustion engine, the liquid fuel producer in effect being u sed as a primer for starting the engine in a cold condition on a heavy hydrocarbon, such as kerosene. After the engine warmed up sufciently, the liquid fuel producer may be rendered inoperative and the engine receive its combustible charge from another source of supply. v A

Referring particularly to Figure 1v ofthe drawings, it will be noted that the upper part of one of the legs of the U-shaped tube 25 is extended through the casing opening 24 so that the gas produced in the producer plant or primer may pass through'tlie U; shaped tube 25 into the union ,26, which luis an air connection 27 whereby the as and air may be mixed in union 26 an 'passed through conduit 27 and inlet manifold 28 to the cylinders'of the internal combustion engine 28', wherein the explosive mixture will be compressed, ignited and expanded for doing work. The resulting products of combustion pass ont of the engine cylinders through the exhaust manifold 29 and conduit 30, in the lower Ipart of which the gasifying U-shaped tube 25 is located, the hot exhaust gas `then passing outwardly through conduit 31. It will be understood that these hot exhaust gases in passing through the conduit 3() heat the gasifying tube 25 and maintain the same in a hot condition. In this connection it will be appreciated that if a liquid fuel, such as kerosene, or any other relatively heavy hydro-carbon, is passed into the tube 25, it immediately will become vaporized andu gasified. The U-shaped tube 25 is provided with a series of baiiies 32, which are arranged alternately and extend into the center of the tube, thereby causing the gas thus formed in the tube to take a serpentine course and to become thoroughly mixed. If the tube lis maintained at the proper temperature, as it will be during the regular operation of the engine, the gas issuing from the tube ).25 will be fixed. In this connection it will be noted that-only the fuel gas' will be heated to a relatively high temperature and when it becomes mixed with cold air in the union 26, the re-v a gas formed in the liquid producing p anty vor primer, said gas passing through the casing l() and into the U-shaped tube'25, and from there on through the cycle heretofore described. To produce the gas in the liquid producing plant it is necessary that the elecregulates both the supply of air and li uid w en to tric circuit for the spark plug be complete. Normally it is incomplete, which is caused by the separation of relatively stationary contact 33 and movable contact 34, which is supported in a lever 35 which may be controlled by the operator through any suitable control member, such as 36. This control member 36 also controls the supply of heavy hydro-carbon and air to the rimer for supplying the initial charges o combustible mixture to the engine c linders, said control being made possible by t e connection 37 from the lever35 to Ithe valve 15, which fuel. Accordingly, it is desire start the engine, it is merely necessary tol pull the control member 36, whereupon oil and air are-supplied to the' producer plant and the `electric circuit completed for furnishing the necessary heatin and ignition sparki After the liquid pro ucer plant has served its function in starting the engine,

electric circuit of the spark plug automatically broken. It will b'e understood that as soon as rthe products of combustion are exhausted through the exhaust manifold and 'conduit 30, the gasif ing tube 25 of the main carbureter will be ighly heated for gasifylng a heavy liquid hydro-carbonv which may be passed therethrough. Heavyhydrocarbon sup lied to the engine for regular running is urnished from a member' 38 and sup ly pipe 39 located over one leg of the U-s aped gasifying tube 25 so that -any hydro-carbon which is discharged |through the p1pe 39 will pass into the U-shaped tube and will be gasified and fixed therein lpreparatory to being mixed with the cold air in the unionA 26. This supply of oil is controlled by a valve 40 having an arm 41 which is connected to rods 42 relatively adjustable with respect to each other through a turn buckle' 43, one of said rods being connected to the lever 41 and the other being connected to a lever 44 selectively through any one of a number of openings 45. The supply of air which is mixed with the gas in the union 26 is controlled by Aav valve in the form of a piston 46, which is operable within an open ended sleeve 47 adjustable vertically within a casing 48 forming a part of the carbureter structure. The piston valve 46 is provided with au opening 46 so that when the piston valve is raised upwardly beyond the upper rim 49 of the sleeve 47, cold air will `be supfplied upwardly through the sleeve 47, through piston opening 46', conduit 2T,

and into. union 26, .-wherethe fixed gas and airl may be mixed in the proper proportion for forming a combustible mixture preparatory to passing into the cylinders of t e engine. .f ny suitable number of openings 46 may be provided, and preferably the lower portions thereof are con-tracted such being'necessary because-the'greater. ve ocity at high speed causes a greater flow inl volume of air. The taper in this case was determined by experiment.

The friction causedby the gas passing through the U-shaped tube 25 makes it necessary to supply friction tothe passage of the larger volumn of air entering through the piston valve 46, and since this necessitates the introduction of a moving part, I have provided an arrangement for automatically re latng the inflow ofthe hydrocarbon, at t e same time keeping both the charges of hydro-carbon and the charges of air synchronized. Accordingly, have formed a connection between the air piston valve 46 and the fuel inlet valve 40, the connection including a link 50 connected to the piston valve 46 and to a lever 51, the lever in turn being connected to a shaft 52 lll() lil() to which the lower end of the lever 44 is connected., The shaft 52 is supported in a asupply of= air as a result of the suctionl caused by the suction strokes of the engine pistons. A throttling device` 54 for the pis- 'ton valve 46 is diagrammatically shown,

said throttling device holding down the lever 51, and when' lifted allows the piston valve to rise, and in proportion to the rise of this piston valve, the lever 51 will be actuated to convey a definite zamount of motion to the oil control valve 40. To lessen the speed, the lever 54 is forced downwardly, preventing the -flow of fuel and air.g If the engine is stopped by throwing off the spark, or for any other reason, the weight 55 on the lever 51 will carry the piston valve 46 downwardly and shut off the oil sup ly.

Among other things, by means o? Vthis gasifying mechanism, including a liquid producer lant or primer for gasifying a heavy hy ro-carbon for an initial supply of combustible gas and means for gasifying a different supply of heavy hydro-carbon for the charges of combustible gas for starting an internal combustion engine in a cold condition and operating the same on heavy hydro-carbon, an efiicientdevice is provided adapted to meet the Arequirements for operating internal, combustion engines on the relatively heavy hydro-carbon fuels.

lIt is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit'and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an-internal combustion engine including exhaust: means therefor, producer means for gasifying heavy lhydrocarbon for an initial supply of combustible gas, means for gasifying heavy hydro-carbon from a different source for supplying combustible gas, said engine exhaust means Abeing placed in a position to provide heat for said second mentioned means, and means for supplying air for mixture with said combustible gas, said engine exhaust means being placed in position to fix said gas before said gas is mixed with said air.

2. In combination, a casing having a pair of inlets for fuel, an outlet conductor, means comprising the exhaust member of an internal combustion engine for heating said outlet conductor, feed means for supplying said conductor, feed means for supplying'` heavy hydro-carbon substantially directly to said conductor and vaporizing means for vaporizing heavy hydro-carbon and delivering the resulting gas to said conductor for starting purposes.

4. In gasifying mechanism, the combination of air supply means, a member connected thereto, producer means for gasifying a vheavy hydro-carbon for an initial charge of gaseous fuel which passes through said member preparatory to mixing with air from said air supply means, means whereby a second -heavy hydro-carbon supply may be gasified'in said member preparatory to mixing with air from said air supply means, and interconnected control means for the air supply and the second mentioned supply of' heavy 'hydro-carbon.

5. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an intake conductor, means for supplying heavy hydro-carbon substantially directly to said conductor, means for gasifying heavy hydro-carbonand supplying same to said conductor for starting purposes, said conductor being placed in a position to be heated by the exhaust productof said engine, whereby gases owing through said conductor may b e fixed, and means for supplying air -to said gases at a point beyond the fixing point of said gases.

6. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a source of relatively heavy hydrocarbon fuel, producer means for gasifying said fuel, means for leading said gasified fuel to said engine, means operatively associated-:xvith the exhaust manifold of said engine for communicating heat to said leading means, means for supplying said relatively heavy fue] directly to said leading means independently of said producer means, common means for controlling the operation of said producer means and for controlling the supply of said heavy fuel and means for admitting air to said gasified fuel at a point in the passage of said gasied fuel after said gasified fuel has been subjected to heat from said means operatively associated with said exhaust manifold.

7 In combination, an internal combustion engine, a source of relatively heavy hydrocarbon fuel, producer means for gasifying said fuel, means for leading said gasified fuel to said engine, means operatively associated with the exhaust manifold of said tively heavy fuel directly to said leading means independently of said producer means, common means for controlling the operation of said producer means and for controlling the Suppl and means for supp ying air 4for mixing with said gasified fuel, said heat communicating means being placed in position to x said gasified fuel before said fuel is mixed with said air.

8. In combination, an internal combustion engine, means for supplying air thereto,

means for conducting heated gases from said t engine, means for leading combustible gas to a point in communication with said air supply means for delivery to said engine, said heated gas conducting means being placed iu a position to fix said combustible gas before said. gas. ismixed with the air from said air supply means, means for supplying relatively heavy hydrocarbon fuel, means for gasifyin said fuel to form a combustible gas and elivering same to said leading means, means` for delivering relatively hea l fuel directly to said leading means indepen ently of sald gasifying means, and common of said heavy fuel,`

means for controlling said air supply means and the supply of said heavy fuel.

9. In combination, an internal combustion engine, means for supplying air thereto, means for conducting heated gases from said engine, means for leading combustible gas to a point in communication with said air supply means for deliveryv to said engine, said heated gas conducting means being placed'in a position to -fix said combustible gas before 'said gas is mixed with the air from'y said air supply means, means, for supplying relatively* heavy hydrocarbon fuel, means for gasifyino' said fuel to form a combustible gas and delivering same to said leading means, means for delivering relatively heavy fuel directly to said lead# ing means independently of said gasifying means, and common means for controlling the operativeness of said 'vaporizing means ndy for controlling4 the supply of heavy uel.

Signed at New York, New York, this 7th day of Jany, 1919. Y

GEORGE L. REIormELM. 

